THE excitement continues to build in the 16th edition of the Blackheart Production /Saint Lucia Football Association Knockout Tournament currently ongoing. This weekend the Blackheart train will whistle its way to the Philip Marcellin Ground in Vieux Fort to take in the final preliminary round of matches and the start of quarterfinal stage.
Today, from 6.00 p.m. Soufriere will do battle with former champions Micoud; and defending champions Vieux Fort South will take on La Clery at 8.00 p.m.
Tomorrow, in quarterfinal action, in Game 1, Laborie, following their upset 1-0 win against Canaries, will take on one of the tournament favorite’s and Island Cup/Coca Cola inaugural champions Marchand from 6.00 p.m.
Marchand made it to the quarterfinal stage with a 2-1 penalty win over the National Under -20 team. The scores were locked at 3-3 after regulation time; the goal scorers for Marchand were – Lincoln Phillip (2) and Lamar George (1). The goal scorers for the National U20s – Nyrone Winter, Daniel Biscette and Al Charles.
In a battle dubbed the “Eastern Titans” two former champions, Dennery and Mabouya Valley will clash with each other at 8.00 p.m.
Dennery made it to the quarterfinal round by defeating Anse la Raye 3-0 with goals from Marlon Gilbert (2) and Thaddeus Faucher (1), while Mabouya Valley survived a nail biting 4-3 penalty win over Vieux Fort North after the scores were locked at 1-1 after regulation time. The goal scorer for Mabouya Valley, Leaus Alphonse.
Wednesday 19th can best be described as a night for “Upsets” at the La Ressource playing field (Dennery) despite a persistent drizzle.
In Game 1, for the first time in the Blackheart tournament, Laborie silenced the Canaries crowd and in the process sent the former champions packing out of contention when they scored the fastest goal of the 2018 tournament inside the 1st minute of play (30 seconds).
The goal scored by Jeremy Edward and despite several attempts to goal at either end of the pitch by Canaries, the Laborie defence stood up to the relentless pressure throughout the remainder of the match to the delight of their supporters.
In Game 2, former champions Gros Islet were the next big casualty falling along the way as they went down to Desruisseaux 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the scores were locked at 1-1 after regulation time.
On the pitch, Ectus Edward put Desruisseaux ahead in the 37th minute, but on the stroke of the halftime whistle of Referee Andrew Phillip, Nicholas Lawerence found the much deserved equalizer for Gros Islet and that’s how the score line remained up until regulation time.
It was sweet revenge for Desruisseaux as they were trounced by Gros Islet 7-1 four years ago.
Desruisseaux’s Head Coach – CalusMonchery spoke to the VOICE, “This victory means more than anything. I always had the desire to play Gros Islet and if I had to handpick a team, not on quality but based on desire to play Gros Islet is the team I would have chosen. The last time we played them they defeated us 7-1, I think we are better team that the result show then.
On the day they looked good, they knocked the ball around well, and they made good use of the midfield and the wide areas. However, the passion that we had coming into this game will carry the team throughout the remainder of the tournament.
In terms of preparation heading into this year’s tournament, we are not been prepared as a district team. The Promotional League ended on Sunday after which we were able to select our players. The core of the team we selected is in match form.
